Anthony Martial Elevates AEK: The Landmark Transfer

AEK has made headlines with the signing of Anthony Martial. The French striker is joining the Greek side as a free agent from Manchester United, aiming to revitalize his career.

This transfer is crucial for AEK, as they have secured a three-year contract with the 28-year-old French forward. Martial is anticipated to arrive in Greece on the evening of Wednesday, 18/09, to finalize his deal with the club.

The "shock" move: Super Mario brings Martial to AEK
Martial started his career with high expectations. He won the Golden Boy award in 2015 as the best young talent worldwide. When Manchester United signed him from Monaco, they included extra incentives for winning the Ballon d'Or.

Martial’s Legendary Deal at AEK

His career didn't pan out as expected, and since 2021, he's been on a downward trajectory. At AEK, the French international aims for a career revival, showcasing his skills on the field, which he struggled to do in recent seasons.

Patrice Evra Offered His Shoes and the Initial Boost
Martial, born in Paris, began at Les Ulis, the same club where Thierry Henry and Patrice Evra started. By age 12-13, he stood out in the academies, showing potential for greatness.

At age 12, Martial literally stepped into Patrice Evra’s shoes. The former United defender had close ties to the Paris club and followed Martial’s development closely. Martial even wore Evra’s shoes at just 12, as recounted by two academy coaches.

That year, Martial trialed at Manchester City but didn’t join their youth program. Two years later, Lyon scouts discovered him, bringing him into their academy.

In his second season with Lyon’s U17 team, he excelled with 21 goals in 32 games, earning national team call-ups for France's U16 and U17. His professional career began on December 6, 2012.

He debuted in a Europa League match against Hapoel Ironi Kiryat Shmona at age 16, replacing Yassine Benzia, marking his professional entry at the historical Gerland stadium.

The Move to Monaco, Swift Rise, and Playing with Elite Players
Martial played just four games with Lyon’s first team before Monaco recognized his talent and signed him for five million euros, with performance bonuses.

He debuted for Monaco on November 24, replacing Radamel Falcao, and scored his first goal against Rennes six days later. He extended his contract twice but stayed for two years, primarily under Leonardo Jardim and Claudio Ranieri.

In his final season at Monaco, he emerged as the top scorer alongside Bernardo Silva in the league with nine goals. That year, Monaco’s attack included experienced players like Dimitar Berbatov and Radamel Falcao, who faced injury challenges.

Martial played alongside young talents such as Guido Carrillo and Aboubakar Kamara, in a team with rising stars like Yannick Carrasco, Lucas Ocampos, Fabinho, and Tiémoué Bakayoko.

The Record Transfer, Standout Debut, and Praise from Sir Alex and Van Gaal
Manchester United signed him for a fee rising to 60 million euros, the highest for an under-21 player then. There was even a clause for winning the Ballon d'Or, causing debate over his value.

"Anthony is a naturally gifted, young, versatile forward with great potential. I believe this is the club to nurture his growth," said then-United manager Louis Van Gaal.

His early days at United were impressive, scoring a stunning debut goal against Liverpool on September 12 at Old Trafford, easing criticism over his transfer fee.

He scored twice in his first start against Southampton and added another goal against Ipswich in the League Cup, garnering praise even from Sir Alex Ferguson.

The Initial Season with Van Gaal and Challenges under Mourinho
During United’s early days, Martial’s speed, excellent control, and scoring ability were evident, despite inconsistency. Multiple managers tried to make him a reliable scorer but couldn't succeed.

His debut season was considered positive, with 17 goals in 49 appearances, mainly as a left winger. A critical FA Cup semi-final goal against Everton helped United win their first post-Ferguson trophy under Van Gaal.

Van Gaal with Anthony Martial after United's victory over Everton in the 2016 FA Cup semi-final
Van Gaal with Anthony Martial after United's victory over Everton in the 2016 FA Cup semi-final @ 2016 KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH / AP IMAGES

Mourinho’s arrival didn’t favor Martial, whose form declined. According to The Athletic, Mourinho viewed him as not only inconsistent but mentally fragile. He struggled to fit into Mourinho’s setup, losing his starting spot to newcomers like Zlatan Ibrahimović.

In January 2017, a move to Paris seemed possible, but Martial chose to remain. Despite Mourinho’s attempts to sell him, he stayed at United.

The 2016/17 season ended with United winning the League Cup and Europa League. Martial played in 42 matches, scoring eight goals.

In the summer of 2017, United acquired Romelu Lukaku, and Martial's opportunities further dwindled. Despite limited starts, he continued to score when given a chance.

The signing of Alexis Sánchez in January aggravated his situation, restricting his play time further, ending with 45 appearances and 11 goals, yet only 2,337 minutes played.

Revival under Solskjær, the Incident with Lamela, and Decline
Martial’s playing time was limited initially, usually being substituted in. But he earned a starting role, scoring in five consecutive matches against top teams like Chelsea and City.

With Mourinho's exit and Solskjær's arrival, Martial's role enhanced. The Norwegian played him both as a winger and striker, increasing his playtime.

Solskjær entrusted him with more responsibility, and Martial scored 12 goals in all competitions.

His peak season was 2019/20, primarily as a striker under Solskjær. Martial regularly found the net, including a hat-trick against Sheffield United on June 24, 2020. This was United's first Premier League hat-trick since Robin Van Persie's in 2012/13. With 23 goals in 48 matches, teammates voted him the best player that season.

However, his form declined in the following season. In a heavy 6-1 defeat to Tottenham in a deserted Old Trafford, Martial received a red card for an off-the-ball incident involving Erik Lamela, leading to a three-match suspension, the only red card in his career.

That season was his last playing over 30 matches, ending with seven goals in total. During the 2021/22 season, he was loaned to Sevilla in the latter half, but struggled to find his form there too.

In his final year at United, he scored just twice in 19 appearances. His last match was against Bournemouth on December 9, 2023, indicating he needs time to reach peak fitness.

Injuries significantly impacted his United tenure, missing 84 matches due to injury issues.

Since the 2018/19 season, he consistently missed several matches due to injuries, except in 2021/22, when he missed nine games, mainly due to knee trouble. He admitted to France Football on his inconsistent career execution.

"I'm not perfect. When people say I lack consistency, it's true. When I have my position, I often perform well, but less use lowers my performance.

It becomes a cycle: less effectiveness because of less playtime, leading to even less deployment. Unlike Cavani, who remains highly engaged even with minimal minutes," he reflected.

The responsibility, however, doesn't rest entirely on him, as factors include United's inability to develop talent post-Ferguson.

In total, he completed 317 appearances and scored 90 goals for United, winning a Europa League, an FA Cup, and two League Cups.

His Stint with the France National Team and Lone Honor
Martial played for France 30 times, debuting on September 4, 2015, in a friendly against Portugal, replacing Karim Benzema.

He scored two goals for the national team. His first was against Italy on September 1, 2016, and his second on September 4, 2021, against Ukraine in a World Cup qualifier.

Didier Deschamps included him in the Euro 2016 squad, playing three times, including extra time in the final against Portugal. His last call-up was for the 2021 Nations League Final Four, where France won. That was his only title with the French national team.